Hodonín Zoo

Hodonín Zoo sits on the northwestern outskirts of Hodonín, a town in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic, close to the border with Slovakia. Spread across roughly 7.5 hectares, it is one of the country's smaller zoos, yet it still draws nearly 200,000 visitors a year.

How did Hodonín Zoo come to be?

The site received its first animals in 1975, and the facility formally opened to the public in 1977 as a small "zookoutek" — essentially an animal corner rather than a full zoo. It was upgraded to the status of a zoopark in 1982, and only in 1992 did it earn recognition as a proper zoological garden. Since then, enclosures and pavilions have been steadily expanded to accommodate a growing and increasingly diverse collection.

What animals live at Hodonín Zoo?

The collection includes several hundred animals representing close to two hundred species, a notable share of which are considered endangered in the wild. Among the zoo's best-known residents are Siberian tigers and jaguars, two of the large cats that consistently draw the biggest crowds. The zoo also keeps Barbary lions, a subspecies that survives today only in captive populations after being hunted to extinction in the wild. Its primate collection includes the red-crowned mangabey, a species rarely displayed in European zoos.

A dedicated bird pavilion is another highlight, showcasing rare parrots, including large macaws alongside colorful toucans. The zoo has also developed a marine aquarium section, presenting saltwater fish and other aquatic species — an unusual feature for a zoo of this size.

What makes Hodonín Zoo stand out?

Unlike the large zoos in Prague or Brno, Hodonín Zoo leans into its compact scale, offering visitors a closer, more intimate encounter with its animals while still contributing to conservation efforts for endangered species such as the Barbary lion. The combination of mammals, birds, and a marine aquarium within a relatively small footprint makes it an appealing stop for families and for wildlife enthusiasts looking for species not commonly seen elsewhere.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Hodonín Zoo located? It lies on the northwestern edge of the town of Hodonín, in the South Moravian Region, near the Czech-Slovak border.

When was the zoo founded? The first animals arrived on site in 1975, the zoo opened to the public in 1977, and it received full zoological-garden status in 1992.

What are the main animal attractions? Visitors most often come to see Siberian tigers, jaguars, Barbary lions, and the red-crowned mangabey, along with rare parrots in the bird pavilion.

How big is Hodonín Zoo? The grounds cover about 7.5 hectares, making it a compact but species-rich zoo.